The 2012 United States House of Representatives elections in Wisconsin were held on Tuesday, November 6, 2012, to elect the eight U.S. representatives from Wisconsin, one from each of the state's eight congressional districts. Representatives are elected for two-year terms; those elected served in the 113th Congress from January 2013 until January 2015. The elections coincided with the elections of other federal and state offices, including a quadrennial presidential election and an election to the U.S. Senate. Primary elections were held on August 14, 2012.
Wisconsin was one of five states in which the party that won the state's popular vote did not win a majority of seats in 2012, the other states being Arizona, Michigan, North Carolina, and Pennsylvania.
Overview United States House of Representatives elections in Wisconsin, 2012PartyVotesPercentageSeats BeforeSeats After+/– Republican 1,401,995 48.92% 5 5 - Democratic 1,445,015 50.42% 3 3 - Libertarian 6,054 0.20% 0 0 - Independent 9,277 0.32% 0 0 - Write-In 26 0.00% 0 0 - Scattering 3,683 0.13% 0 0 - Totals 2,956,050 100.00% 8 8 -
District 1
Republican Paul Ryan, who has represented Wisconsin's 1st congressional district since 1999, ran for reelection after deciding not to run for the U.S. Senate or seek the Republican presidential nomination in 2012.
Republican primary Candidates Nominee Paul Ryan, incumbent U.S. Representative
Results
Democratic primary Candidates Nominee Rob Zerban, member of the Kenosha County Board and former small business owner
Results
Libertarian primary Candidates Nominee Keith Deschler, factory worker
General election Campaign Though Ryan was selected to be the Republican nominee for Vice President of the United States on August 11, 2012, he was allowed, and continued to, run for re-election to his House seat.
Endorsements
Polling Pollsource Date(s)administered Samplesize Margin oferror PaulRyan (R) RobZerban (D) KeithDeschler (L) UndecidedPublic Opinion Strategies (R-Ryan)Public Opinion Strategies (R-Ryan) September 9–10, 2012 400 ±4.9% 58% 33% 3% 6%Fairbank, Maslin, Maullin, Metz & Associates (D-Zerban)Fairbank, Maslin, Maullin, Metz & Associates (D-Zerban) August 21–23, 2012 404 ±4.9% 47% 39% 4% 11%
Predictions SourceRankingAs of The Cook Political Report November 5, 2012 Rothenberg November 2, 2012 Roll Call, November 4, 2012 Sabato's Crystal BallCrystal Ball , November 5, 2012 NY TimesHouse Race Ratings, The New York Times, November 4, 2012RCP, November 4, 2012The Hill November 4, 2012
Results
External links
District 2
Democrat Tammy Baldwin, who represented Wisconsin's 2nd congressional district since 1999, ran for the U.S. Senate.
Democratic primary Candidates Nominee Mark Pocan, state representative
Eliminated in primary Dennis Hall, former member of Janesville City Council Kelda Roys, state representative Matt Silverman, attorney and decorated combat veteran
Withdrawn Dave Worzala, Dane County Treasurer
Declined Tammy Baldwin, incumbent U.S. Representative Jon Erpenbach, state senator
Results
Republican primary Candidates Nominee Chad Lee, businessman and nominee for this seat in 2010
Results
General election Endorsements
Predictions SourceRankingAs of The Cook Political Report November 5, 2012 Rothenberg November 2, 2012 Roll Call November 4, 2012 Sabato's Crystal Ball November 5, 2012 NY Times November 4, 2012RCP November 4, 2012The Hill November 4, 2012
Results
District 3
Democrat Ron Kind, who has represented Wisconsin's 3rd congressional district since 1997, did not run for the U.S. Senate and instead ran for re-election.
Democratic primary Candidates Nominee Ron Kind, incumbent U.S. Representative
Results
Republican primary Candidates Nominee Ray Boland, former state Secretary of Veterans Affairs and former commander at Fort McCoy
Withdrawn Edward Martin, retired Army sergeant
Declined Bruce Evers, financial adviser and candidate for this seat in 2010
Results
General election Endorsements
Predictions SourceRankingAs of The Cook Political Report November 5, 2012 Rothenberg November 2, 2012 Roll Call November 4, 2012 Sabato's Crystal Ball November 5, 2012 NY Times November 4, 2012RCP November 4, 2012The Hill November 4, 2012
Results
District 4
Democrat Gwen Moore, who had represented Wisconsin's 4th congressional district since 2005, ran for re-election.
Democratic primary Candidates Nominee Gwen Moore, incumbent U.S. Representative
Results
Republican primary Candidates Nominee Dan Sebring, automobile repair shop owner and nominee for this seat in 2010
Results
Independents Robert R. Raymond, perennial candidate
General election Endorsements
Predictions SourceRankingAs of The Cook Political Report November 5, 2012 Rothenberg November 2, 2012 Roll Call November 4, 2012 Sabato's Crystal Ball November 5, 2012 NY Times November 4, 2012RCP November 4, 2012The Hill November 4, 2012
Results
District 5
Republican Jim Sensenbrenner, who has represented Wisconsin's 5th congressional district since 2003 (and previously represented Wisconsin's 9th congressional district from 1979 to 2003), ran for re-election.
Republican primary Candidates Nominee Jim Sensenbrenner, incumbent U.S. Representative
Results
Democratic primary Candidates Nominee Dave Heaster, technology employee at the Kohler Company
Results
General election Predictions SourceRankingAs of The Cook Political Report November 5, 2012 Rothenberg November 2, 2012 Roll Call November 4, 2012 Sabato's Crystal Ball November 5, 2012 NY Times November 4, 2012RCP November 4, 2012The Hill November 4, 2012
Results
District 6
Republican Tom Petri, who has represented Wisconsin's 6th congressional district since 1979, ran for re-election.
Republican primary Candidates Nominee Tom Petri, incumbent U.S. Representative
Eliminated in primary Lauren Stephens, founder of a conservative political action committee.
Results
Democratic primary Candidates Nominee Joe Kallas, former member of the Green Lake County Board and nominee for this seat in 2010
Results
General election Predictions SourceRankingAs of The Cook Political Report November 5, 2012 Rothenberg November 2, 2012 Roll Call November 4, 2012 Sabato's Crystal Ball November 5, 2012 NY Times November 4, 2012RCP November 4, 2012The Hill November 4, 2012
Results
District 7
Republican Sean Duffy, who has represented Wisconsin's 7th congressional district since 2011, ran for re-election.
Republican primary Candidates Nominee Sean Duffy, incumbent U.S. Representative
Results
Democratic primary Candidates Nominee Pat Kreitlow, former state Senator
Declined Janet Bewley, state representative
Results
General election Endorsements
Polling Pollsource Date(s)administered Samplesize Margin oferror SeanDuffy (R) PatKreitlow (D) UndecidedNMB Research (R-American Action Network)NMB Research (R-American Action Network) September 30–October 1, 2012 400 ±4.9% 51% 40% 9%Fairbank, Maslin, Maullin, Metz & Associates (D-Kreitlow)Fairbank, Maslin, Maullin, Metz & Associates (D-Kreitlow) September 25–26, 2012 509 ±4.4% 44% 41% 15%Public Policy Polling (D-CREDO)Public Policy Polling (D-CREDO) September 24–25, 2012 694 ±3.7% 48% 44% 7%
Predictions SourceRankingAs of The Cook Political Report November 5, 2012 Rothenberg November 2, 2012 Roll Call November 4, 2012 Sabato's Crystal Ball November 5, 2012 NY Times November 4, 2012RCP November 4, 2012The Hill November 4, 2012
Results
District 8
Republican Reid Ribble, who has represented Wisconsin's 8th congressional district since 2011, ran for re-election.
Republican primary Candidates Nominee Reid Ribble, incumbent U.S. Representative
Results
Democratic primary Candidates Nominee Jamie Wall, business consultant and candidate for this seat in 2006
Results
General election Polling Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Margin oferror ReidRibble (R) JamieWall (D)UndecidedNormington, Petts & Associates (D)Normington, Petts & Associates (D-Wall) September 18–19, 2012 400 ±4.9% 47% 41% 12%
Endorsements
Predictions SourceRankingAs of The Cook Political Report November 5, 2012 Rothenberg November 2, 2012 Roll Call November 4, 2012 Sabato's Crystal Ball November 5, 2012 NY Times November 4, 2012RCP November 4, 2012The Hill November 4, 2012
Results
External links
References
External links Elections & Voting at the Wisconsin Government Accountability Board Candidate list United States House of Representatives elections in Wisconsin, 2012 at Ballotpedia Wisconsin U.S. House at OurCampaigns.com Campaign contributions for U.S. Congressional races in Wisconsin at OpenSecrets Outside spending at the Sunlight Foundation